Leaving the

reunion

a man was

approached

by a classmate

with whom

he reconnected

after about forty-

eight years. They

had shared over

a drink in the bar

away from the

other classmates.

The classmate

embraced the

man, held him

tightly and when

it seemed

appropriate

to the man to let

go, the classmate

whispered in his

ear, “Don’t let

go yet. Please.”

In that moment,

all the

stupid,

rude,

dumb-assed

noise

around

them faded in-

to the distance.

Two needy

guys held

each other

up like a

piling in

a storm

holding

the pier

in place.